Ashgrove lends a hand

May 30, 2018

Community unites to help asylum seeker.

WHEN word got out that Iranian asylum seeker Pouya needed work, Ashgrove business owner Jennie Elston got to work. Ms Elston gathered support from 20 friends and neighbours who each committed to offering Pouya two hours’ work a week.

She said Pouya, who had been held in detention on Manus Island, did not want donations but was instead desperate for work to support himself and give his life some meaning. Ms Elston heard about his case through not-for-profit group Communify’s Asylum Circle network. “Pouya was so enthusiastic about the small amount of work we were able to offer him that he wanted to start straight away,” she said.